tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

2011 Fantasy Projections: Second Basemen

The second base position has a couple of studs but then there are plenty of risk/reward candidates.

5*: Robinson Cano - NYY

4*: Chase Utley - Philly

3*: Dustin Pedroia - Bost, Brandon Phillips - Cincy

2*: Kinsler - Tex, Figgins - Sea, K.Johnson - Ariz, Hill - Tor, Walker - Pitt

1*: Weeks - Milw, Prado - Atl, Beckham - CWS, Kendrick - LAA, Young - Colo

Nishioka - Minn, Brignac - TB

Cano is a stud and will be a first round pick for sure.  Because of the scarcity of top talent, Utley will go in the early second.  Utley is getting older but still should be able to produce.  Pedroia and Phillips are good picks once the top two are gone.  Both have possible health issues that need to be followed but if healthy can certainly help your fantasy team.

The 2* players all could help your team however there are no sure things.  Kinsler can be awesome however he has had a history of injury issues.  Figgins is not the Figgins of old.  He's usually one of my old reliables.  He will still get you stolen bases but hopefully the average will come back.  Kelly Johnson had a good year last year and hopefully that continues.  Aaron Hill had a big year in 2009 and not so big last year.  He would be worth a flyer on particularly as your draft goes into the mid to late rounds.  Neil Walker was a great waiver pickup for me last year.  He is certainly worth a selection however there are no guarantees as last year was his first year.

1*: Richie Weeks could have been ranked higher.  Again injuries always an issue with him however as the draft winds down you can certainly do worse.  Martin Prado is a decent pick and will eventually have outfield eligibility as he is being penciled in there to start for the Braves.  Gordon Beckham could be a real steal.  The kid made a position switch last year and its believed to have hurt him at the plate.  Beckham did come on toward the end of the year.  Howie Kendrick seems to be the perennial breakout candidate.  I'm tired of waiting.  Eric Young could be an interesting selection however risky going into the season with him as your starter.

Two guys to keep an eye on are Reid Brignac of Tampa Bay and Tsuyoshi Nishioka of Minnesota.  Both will start.  Brignac could be a useful player.  Nishioka has been heavily hyped coming to the U.S.  Could be high reward but could also be high risk.

Black Balled List: Howie Kendrick - LAA